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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 02.05.20
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Jason Mackey
11:22
Hi folks. Welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. We're getting dangerously close to spring training, which means there's plenty to talk about. Ask your questions now. I'll be back at noon to answer 'em.
Mario
11:56
Hi Jason...In light of the Cole and Marte trades, it’s too bad Nutting didn’t hire Jim Rutherford as he seems to get VALUE for his transactions.
Jason Mackey
11:58
Hi Mario, this is actually a funny thing to think about. I like Cherington and I think he was a smart hire, even if I think people are kinda getting mad right now. But Jim is a big baseball guy. He has always joked with me that it's the one thing he hasn't done in sports that he'd love to try. I think he'd be good at it, too. But I'm not sure Jim's aggressiveness and how Nutting runs the Pirates would make for a terribly good match. Thanks.
SalemPirate
11:58
The more I think about the upcoming season, I'm thinking what the heck let's start Hayes from the get go. Foolish?
Jason Mackey
12:00
You shouldn't start a young, talented player because you think everybody will stink. Regardless of whether you're right, it's not the right move for Hayes -- who has done nothing wrong here -- to come up before he's ready. Honestly, you can pick apart issues they have, but I think their infield situation isn't terrible. Moran is fine as a stopgap. Newman is terrific piece. Frazier had a good year ... so good that I might trade him. I like Cole Tucker. Again, I just wouldn't force Hayes. His bat will tell us when he's ready.
Ty
12:00
Is Will Craig going to get a shot at the major leauge level this year in a corner outfield spot becuase barring any major set back, he’s a young guy that deserves and has earned a chance.
Jason Mackey
12:01
It depends on the type of spring he has. If he shows he can play out there, yeah. But last year wasn't a terribly great audition, for a few reasons. Craig also needs to find more consistency at the plate; he had a terrible end to the season.
BuccoBill
12:01
I know the names but what is your prediction for opening day rotation
Jason Mackey
12:02
Musgrove-Williams-Archer-Keller-Brault ... Kuhl and Holland as potential swing guys out of the 'pen.
rs
12:02
Great coverage of your trip to camp last week. Awesome reads. As for the Pirates, I understand trading Marte and building up the minor league system. I am all for "rebuilding" and I want to give new management team the benefit of the doubt. That being said, I am skeptical no matter what the plan is since Mr. Nutting has never proven he is willing to do what it takes to put a championship team on the field. From 2013-2015, fans showed up and were rewarded by a slow dismantling beginning in 2016 leading us to where we sit today. Can you give disappointed and frustrated pirate fans some hope??
Jason Mackey
12:04
I chatted with Ben Cherington today. Haven't written this, but one of the things Ben said was he believes that they'll eventually be able to increase payroll. My take: I can see Bob Nutting wanting Cherington and others to improve how they draft, sign and develop guys. They should be better with those things than they've been. They should be getting better performance out of the major league club, too. If Derek Shelton can help to achieve that, and Cherington can improve those other things, then Nutting damn well better reciprocate by giving those guys what they need to keep competing.
12:05
Also, if you're Ben Cherington -- who is not an idiot and has the World Series rings to prove it -- why on Earth would you come here if you didn't get some sort of assurance, hopefully in writing, that payroll would increase in lockstep to the team's performance?
Ron J
12:05
Hi Jason . I can’t understand how the Pirates can’t lose at least 100
Jason Mackey
12:07
I don't think they'll lose 100. I don't even think they'll lose 90. USA Today can predict all it wants, but it doesn't make it gospel. It's hard to fully understand how frustrated and over it that clubhouse was last season unless you were there every day. There's a lot of improvement Shelton and Co. can achieve without the Pirates spending a time, simply because they're going to want to play for this group more than they did the old one.
Spending a *dime
Benson DuBois
12:08
If the Pirates held Marte through his contract, they could have let him (likely) reject the QO and collect a draft pick equal to one of the two 19-year-olds they got for him.  In essence they gave up two years of Marte at a reasonable cost to get one extra player who is four years away.  Does this make sense?
Jason Mackey
12:11
If you like the players you got -- let's face it: Neither of us know a blessed thing about these guys -- why wait? And, also, what if he gets hurt late in that 2020 season, then you're forced into making him a QO. What if he's really hurt? I don't have an issue with the trade. You need to trust Cherington/Sanders to do what they have a track record of doing. I do hope they repurpose some of that money into players for 2020, however.
Brian
12:11
Jason. to your knowledge, have any teams approached the Pirates regarding Bell's availability ? Is it fair to expect a team's top 10 pitching prospect in exchange for him ? Who is the player besides Bell that would yield the best return in a trade ?
Jason Mackey
12:13
I can't tell you whether the Pirates have had any meaningful discussions on Bell, although yeah, absolutely it would be fair to expect a top 10 pitching prospect in exchange for him. I think it would be fair to expect a heck of a lot more than that, honestly. And best return? Newman or Reynolds, I would imagine. Among trade candidates, though, probably Archer if he figures it out, given starting pitching is such a commodity. But again, he has to pitch better. Kela could net them something, too, provided he doesn't have any off-field issues, meaning injuries or blowups.
Gball
12:13
Jason, do you ever think MLB will step in and put a salary floor in effect? I'm not a Nutting basher because MLB is allowing him to run this team as a business and that's exactly what he's doing.
Jason Mackey
12:14
I don't. Because I don't see how you could implement a floor without a ceiling. That said, I think it's needed. I think teams like the Pirates should be spending more on major league players, and I think teams like the Yankees should be spending less. Believe me, I'm all for a salary cap similar to that of the other three major pro sports.
SlamDog
12:18
Jason how many of your hits were actually ground balls to the shortstop but the 70 yr old couldnt throw the ball across the diamond?
Jason Mackey
12:19
Haha. Not many, honestly. I know I had one or two fantasy camp specials in there, not gonna lie. But I did hit the ball decently hard.k
Steve
12:19
If the Yankees spend less, though, that means they are, in reality, "cheaper" than the Pirates. There lies the problem--the revenue is very lopsided.
Jason Mackey
12:19
I agree with you, Steve. As I said, I think there should be a floor and a ceiling. I think baseball's economic system absolutely stinks. It's not fair to fans.
JimM
12:19
Jason,  Have you asked Ben Cherington if he’s considering miving Oneil Cruz to the outfield?
Jason Mackey
12:20
He was asked at one time or another. Don't remember who asked him. Believe it was at the Winter Meetings. I think they're still figuring out what's best for Cruz. I would say considering it is fair, but I'm not sure they've settled on anything concrete at this point.
Sean
12:20
Why do you seem to be a shill for Nutting? All of your columns and articles reek of making excuses for this pathetic payroll and act like these free agent signings are awesome when they are a joke.
Jason Mackey
12:23
What article did I write that says their free agent signings are awesome? If you could send a link, that would be much appreciated because I can't seem to remember that one. My job is to report on what they do and analyze it to the best of my ability -- hence the title, beat reporter. Columnists are paid for their opinions. I'm pretty sure Cook, Starkey, Collier and Zeise have all ripped the Pirates at various times this offseason. You wanna get pissed about what they're doing, great. But I'm not sitting here saying fans should be OK with this. I'm explaining who they signed and what these guys have done good and bad.
Kevin V
12:23
Jason
Jason Mackey
12:23
Kevin.
Kevin V
12:23
Jason  Just saw that the Pirates signed a 16 year old Aussie OF, Solomon Maguire.  Where would a player like that play for the next few years?  The Latin American development leagues would not seem to be a good fit there.  Just curious.Thanks and really enjoy your coverage.
Jason Mackey
12:24
Thanks, Kevin. I'm told Maguire will first finish up high school in Australia. Then, who knows? Could come to the states and play affiliated ball if he's ready for that. I think it's TBD at this point.
Steve
12:24
I'm not sure we're on the same page. When I say the Yankees would be cheaper, I mean they aren't spending on players in step with their revenue if they spend less. You can't say the Pirates need to spend more while the Yankees spend less. They are conflicting ideals. In theory, everyone needs to spend more, which may only happen with greater revenue sharing--something big markets will probably never agree to.
Jason Mackey
12:25
I agree with you, Steve. Thanks for participating.
BDog
12:25
Does Bob Nutting if he wanted to have $130 million a year to spend on the payroll? And I am being serious asking about that. Maybe he isn't the rich liquid cash guy everyone thinks. Seven Springs is probably losing money because it doesn't snow anymore, the newspaper industry isn't profitable like it used to be. I guess my thoughts are if Cherington means he'll eventually raise payroll what the heck does that mean? In 2025 I'll go back to $90 million? Are we supposed to be happy about that?
Jason Mackey
12:27
I would hope not, given the MLB average is, what $124 million? Not positive on that number, but it's around that. I've said this before -- even if Sean seems to have missed it -- I think the Pirates should be spending more than they are. And if Bob Nutting either is unwilling to unable to spend at least the league average on his team, then I think he owes it to the fans and everyone else to sell. But given the situation they're in right now, I'm OK saying to Cherington and others, "Hey, fix all this crap that's wrong, then I'll push in my chips." The key will be if Nutting follows through if/when the improvements occur.
SalemPirate
12:27
Puig's name has been floated as a possible FA signing. Imagine Kela and Puig in the same locker room and add Crick to a somewhat volatile mix. Would this mix even be a consideration given the problems from the last season? Thanks for the chats.
Jason Mackey
12:29
Keep Puig out of that room, IMO. Bunch of good kids there. I don't know about Puig. He may be a good dude, honestly. But I don't think I want to take that chance. Also, Crick and Kela together weren't an issue. I don't know why people seem to want to create that narrative. Crick had an ongoing issue with Vazquez. Kela and Crick both popped off at coaches, which can't happen -- on either side. But it's not like the two of them bickered at each other constantly.
Don Orris
12:29
Instead of spending nothing for a few years until perhaps the payroll goes up, what would be wrong with Nutting committing $100 million each year like he did in 2015 while the farm system gets rebuilt? We have a decent core, that extra money gets up a few legit players in free agency every year and then we have a team that at least can compete for the playoffs? Am I wrong?
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